The Case against Vitamins
A fascinating review of vitamin studies, followed by this theory:
To neutralize free radicals, the body makes antioxidants (good). Antioxidants can also be found in fruits and vegetables, specifically in selenium, beta carotene and vitamins A, C and E. Some studies have shown that people who eat more fruits and vegetables have a lower incidence of cancer and heart disease and live longer. The logic is obvious. If fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, and people who eat fruits and vegetables are healthier, then people who take supplemental antioxidants should also be healthier. It hasn’t worked out that way.
The likely explanation is that free radicals aren’t as evil as advertised. (In fact, people need them to kill bacteria and eliminate new cancer cells.) And when people take large doses of antioxidants in the form of supplemental vitamins, the balance between free radical production and destruction might tip too much in one direction, causing an unnatural state where the immune system is less able to kill harmful invaders. Researchers call this the antioxidant paradox.
From the NYT.
Interesting post. A lot of people have been taught to believe that eating vitamins is good for you. I guess based on that you should eat vitamins in moderation.
I think a lot of this has to do with people self-medicating when they get sick. It tends to make people feel better about themselves, because while they ate the double cheeseburger for lunch, they ate their vitamins C pill.
Based on this are vitamins a good idea in general? or is it just excess use of said vitamins?
Well I would say it would be excess doses. Most Vitamin bottles have a warning on the label claiming that people should eat over X amount or it can become harmful. Also Dr. Goodman claims that “…when people take large doses of antioxidants in the form of supplemental vitamins…” things go bad.
I think this raises the question though, is putting chemically condensed vitamins a good idea instead of eating more fruits and vegetables? I think that might be a more natural solution to the possibility of Cancer & heart disease etc.
I think that is the solution. Nutritionists have been advocating that approach, especially with diets like the Paleo-diet, China Study diet, etc.
This is very interesting. The very people we hoped would be helped by antioxidants mopping up free radicals are dying in greater numbers than those who don’t.
It’s a radical theory that free radicals are good for your in small doses. It’s the dose that makes the poison.
Exactly, but I think there is something to be said about eating too many vitamins, it has been scientifically proven across the board that inserting too much of anything into your system is bad for you.
A few years ago there was a study of caloric restriction and monkey longevity. The old theory is that fewer calories produces fewer free radicals and people who restrict calories will live longer. This has worked in rats. However, the study found that it wasn’t the case in moneys. But part of the reason was the calorie restricted moneys ate a highly refined diet (thus, they could restrict the calories more accurately). The control group ate non-refined stuff and the nutrients and micro-nutrients causes them to live longer than normal.